Special to WorldTribune.com

CAIRO — Tunisia has captured an Al Qaida-aligned cell.

The Tunisian Interior Ministry has reported the capture of a cell aligned with Al Qaida’s Ansar Al Sharia.

The ministry said eight suspected members of the cell were arrested and charged with plotting attacks in Sfax, deemed the economic capital of Tunisia.

“Suspected members of a cell from the banned Ansar Al Sharia movement were arrested Sunday by special units of the National Guard in Sfax,” the Interior Ministry said.

In a statement on April 6, the Interior Ministry said the Ansar operatives were arrested after a premature explosion in El Ain in Sfax. The statement said two of the suspects were in the building, one of whom was injured in the blast.

“Quantities of ammonium nitrate and raw materials used in triggering
blasts were seized,” the statement said.

Ansar has been deemed the leading Islamist insurgency network in
Tunisia. The group has been identified as behind the assault on the U.S.
embassy in Tunis in 2012 as well as the assassination of opposition figures
last year.

Officials said Ansar sought to acquire fighters and weapons from
neighboring Algeria. They said Ansar was linked with other Al Qaida
militias, particularly Al Qaida Organization in the Islamic Maghreb.

  Al Qaida Organization in the Islamic Maghreb, Ansar Al Sharia, Tunisia says captured terror cell planned attacks on economic capital Sfax